Disposable Covering Device

ABSTRACT

A disposable covering device is a one or two piece adhesive-backed, peel-and-stick plastic disposable cover for the soles of shoes, designed for temporary use in a variety of situations, to protect a user&#39;s shoes from dirt, grease and grime, germs and toxins, while also protecting floors and carpets from the same.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority from priorprovisional application Ser. No. 62/203,137, filed Aug. 10, 2015 whichapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, or that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of disposablecovering devices for soles of footwear and more specifically relates toa product line of form-fitting, disposable shoe-sole covers designed toprotect the soles of shoes from dirt, germs, toxins, bacteria, grease,and grime for use at gas-stations, convenience-stores, movie-theaters,public restrooms, and other venues with dirty, objectionable walkingsurfaces. It is also a neat solution for keeping the floors and carpetsof a household clean and germ-free, while allowing individuals to keeptheir shoes on.

2. Description of the Related Art

An easily affordable way of keeping one's shoe-soles from picking up andtracking grease, grime, toxins, and bacteria into car, house, oroffice—is the subject of this report. Consumers fill the gas tank oftheir vehicle relatively often at a gas-station island, and in theprocess, may inadvertently step in spilled gas, or oil that has leakedout of a previous vehicle, then stepped back into their own vehicle tofind that their shoe-soles have soiled their car-mats. Or walking out ofa movie-theater with shoe-soles made sticky by a soda-syrupymovie-theater floor, only to find that their shoe-soles are now actinglike adhesive tape, picking up gravel and grime from the parking-lotoutside. Therefore a need exists to eliminate, these common and annoyingproblems—neatly, efficiently, and affordably.

Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problemssuch as those found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,881 to Edward M. Safdie; U.S.Pat. No. 2,134,196 to C. Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 3,903,620 to GilletLucien A.; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,024,872 to Raymond Anthony Pettis. Thisart is representative of disposable covering devices for soles offootwear. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singlyor in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.

Ideally, a shoe sole covering device should provide ease of installationand use, ease of disposal, low cost of use, and, yet would workeffectively and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need existsfor a reliable disposable covering device designed to protect the solesof shoes from dirt, germs, toxins, bacteria, grease, and grime for useat gas-stations, convenience-stores, movie-theaters, public restrooms,and other venues with dirty, objectionable walking surfaces or floors,while providing a neat solution for keeping the floors and carpets of ahousehold clean and germ-free, while allowing individuals to keep theirshoes on, and to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known disposablecovering devices for soles of footwear art, the present inventionprovides a novel disposable covering device The general purpose of thepresent invention, which will be described subsequently in greaterdetail is to provide a product line of form-fitting, disposableshoe-sole covers designed to protect the soles of shoes from dirt,germs, toxins, bacteria, grease, and grime for use at gas-stations,convenience-stores, movie-theaters, public restrooms, and other venueswith dirty, objectionable pavements or floors, while providing a neatsolution for keeping the floors and carpets of a household clean andgerm-free, while allowing individuals to keep their shoes on.

A disposable covering device is disclosed herein, in a preferredembodiment, comprising a sheet member including a layer of flexiblematerial and a layer of adhesive material placed upon a top surface of alayer of flexible material. It further comprises a heel portion and afront portion sized and shaped to fit over and cover a heel and frontportion of a sole of footwear. The disposable covering device is adaptedto be attached upon a bottom surface of the sole of footwear via a layerof adhesive material and used to protect the bottom surface of the soleof footwear from dirt, germs, bacteria, toxins, grease, grime, and otherlike substances, and can be peeled off and disposed of after use.

The disposable covering device further has a protection sheet adapted tohold the sheet member thereon, and the sheet member is attached to theprotection sheet via a layer of adhesive material until the use thereofis no longer needed. The sheet member is formed from molded plasticmaterial having a shape and size adapted such that it can be cut smallerto fit smaller sized footwear without material extending beyond the soleof the footwear and creating a hazard to the user. The heel portionincludes a high-heel portion in a middle area shaped and adapted to beplaced over an end portion of a high-heeled shoe and is formed having anO-shape, with a thickness greater than the thickness of the rest of theheel portion. The heel portion and front portion are detachable from oneanother, such that each can be placed on respective portions ofdifferent sized footwear.

A combination of footwear and a disposable covering device comprisingfootwear having a sole including a heel portion and a front portion, anda disposable covering device comprising a sheet member including a layerof flexible material and a layer of adhesive material placed upon a topsurface of the layer of flexible material. It further has a heel portionand a front portion sized and shaped to fit over and cover the heel andfront portion of the sole of footwear respectively. The disposablecovering device is adapted to be attached upon the bottom surface of thesole of footwear via a layer of adhesive material and used to protectthe bottom surface of the sole of footwear from dirt, germs, bacteria,toxins, grease, grime, and other like substances, and can be peeled offand disposed of after use.

The disposable covering device further has a protection sheet adapted tohold the sheet member thereon, and the sheet member is attached to theprotection sheet via a layer of adhesive material until the use thereofis no longer needed. The sheet member is formed from molded plasticmaterial having a shape and size adapted such that it can be cut smallerto fit smaller sized footwear without material extending beyond the soleof the footwear and creating a hazard to the user. The heel portionincludes a high-heel portion in a middle area shaped and adapted to beplaced over an end portion of a high-heeled shoe and is formed having anO-shape, with a thickness greater than the thickness of the rest of theheel portion. The heel portion and front portion are detachable from oneanother, such that each can be placed on respective portions ofdifferent sized footwear.

The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as adisposable covering device. For purposes of summarizing the invention,certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention havebeen described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily allsuch advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particularembodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied orcarried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage orgroup of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving otheradvantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of theinvention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention,disposable covering device constructed and operative according to theteachings of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a disposable coveringdevice in an in-use condition according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a disposable covering deviceand how it attaches to a bottom surface of footwear according to anembodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating a variety of disposable coveringdevices according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a disposable covering deviceand how it attaches to a high-heeled shoe according to an embodiment ofthe present invention of FIG. 1.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to acovering device for soles of footwear and more particularly to a line ofform-fitting, disposable shoe-sole covers designed to protect the solesof shoes from dirt, germs, toxins, bacteria, grease, and grime, and usedto improve the ability of a user to not only protect their own shoesfrom grease and grime, but to also keep floors and carpets free fromdirt, grease and grime, germs and bacteria, while allowing individualsto keep their shoes on.

Generally speaking, the disposable covering device is a one or two pieceadhesive-backed, peel-and-stick plastic disposable cover for the solesof shoes, designed for temporary use in a variety of situations, toprotect a user's shoes from dirt, grease and grime, germs and toxins,while also protecting floors and carpets from the same.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown inFIG. 1, a perspective view illustrating disposable covering device 100in an in-use condition 102 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Disposable covering device 100 is disclosed herein, in a preferredembodiment, comprising sheet member 110 including layer of flexiblematerial 114 and layer of adhesive material 118 placed upon top surface122 of layer of flexible material 114. It further comprises heel portion130 and front portion 140 sized and shaped to fit over and cover heel150 and front portion 154 of sole of footwear 160. Disposable coveringdevice 100 is adapted to be attached upon bottom surface 164 of sole offootwear 160 via layer of adhesive material 118 and used to protectbottom surface 164 of sole of footwear 160 from dirt, germs, bacteria,toxins, grease, grime, and other like substances, and can be peeled offand disposed of after use.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view illustrating a disposablecovering device 100 and how it attaches to a bottom surface 164 offootwear 204 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Disposable covering device 100 further has protection sheet 170 adaptedto hold sheet member 110 thereon, and sheet member 110 is attached toprotection sheet 170 via a layer of adhesive material 118 until the usethereof is no longer needed. Sheet member 110 is formed from moldedplastic material 112 having a shape and size adapted such that it can becut smaller to fit smaller sized footwear without material extendingbeyond sole of footwear 160 and creating a hazard to user 104. Heelportion 130 includes high-heel portion 132 in a middle area 134 shapedand adapted to be placed over end portion 136 of a high-heeled shoe andis formed having O-shape 138, with a thickness greater than thethickness of the rest of heel portion 130. Heel portion 130 and frontportion 154 are detachable from one another, such that each can beplaced on respective portions of different sized footwear 204.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a top view illustrating a variety of disposablecovering devices 100 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Combination 200 of footwear 204 and disposable covering device 100comprising footwear 204 having sole of footwear 160 including heelportion 130 and front portion 154, and disposable covering device 100comprising sheet member 110 including layer of flexible material 114 andlayer of adhesive material 118 placed upon top surface 122 of layer offlexible material 114. It further comprises heel portion 130 and frontportion 140 sized and shaped to fit over and cover heel 150 and frontportion 154 of sole of footwear 160. Disposable covering device 100 isadapted to be attached upon bottom surface 164 of sole of footwear 160via layer of adhesive material 118 and used to protect bottom surface164 of sole of footwear 160 from dirt, germs, bacteria, toxins, grease,grime, and other like substances, and can be peeled off and disposed ofafter use.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a perspective view illustrating a disposablecovering device 100 and how it attaches to a high-heeled shoe accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

Disposable covering device 100 further has protection sheet 170 adaptedto hold sheet member 110 thereon, and sheet member 110 is attached toprotection sheet 170 via a layer of adhesive material 118 until the usethereof is no longer needed. Sheet member 110 is formed from moldedplastic material 112 having a shape and size adapted such that it can becut smaller to fit smaller sized footwear 204 without material extendingbeyond sole of footwear 160 and creating a hazard to the user. Heelportion 130 includes high-heel portion 132 in a middle area 134 shapedand adapted to be placed over end portion 136 of a high-heeled shoe andis formed having O-shape 138, with a thickness greater than thethickness of the rest of heel portion 130. Heel portion 130 and frontportion 154 are detachable from one another, such that each can beplaced on respective portions of different sized footwear.

Disposable covering device 100 may be manufactured and provided for salein a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment ofapplications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciatedthat, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as designpreference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structuralrequirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., suchas, for example, including more or less components, customized parts,different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may besufficient.

Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, underappropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference,user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements,available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of usearrangements such as, for example, different orders withinabove-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps,including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may besufficient.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. A disposable covering device forsoles of footwear comprising: a sheet member including; a layer offlexible material; and a layer of adhesive material placed upon a topsurface of said layer of flexible material; a heel portion; wherein saidheel portion is sized and shaped to fit over and cover a heel of saidsole of said footwear; a front portion; wherein said front portion issized and shaped to fit over and cover a front portion of said sole ofsaid footwear; wherein said disposable covering device is adapted to beremovably attached upon a bottom surface of said sole of said footwearvia said layer of adhesive material and used to protect the bottomsurface of said sole of said footwear from dirt, germs, bacteria,toxins, grease, grime, and other like substances; and can be peeled offtherefrom and disposed of after use.
 2. The disposable covering deviceof claim 1, further comprising a protection sheet adapted to hold saidsheet member thereon until the use thereof is desire; wherein said sheetmember is removably attached to said protection sheet via said layer ofadhesive material.
 3. The disposable covering device of claim 1, whereinsaid sheet member is formed having a shape and size adapted such that iscan be cut smaller to fit smaller sized footwear without materialextending beyond said sole of said footwear and creating a hazard tosaid user.
 4. The disposable covering device of claim 1, wherein saidheel portion includes a high-heel portion in a middle area thereofshaped and adapted to be placed over an end portion of a high-heeledshoe.
 5. The disposable covering device of claim 4, wherein saidhigh-heel portion is formed having an O-shape.
 6. The disposablecovering device of claim 4, wherein said high-heel portion is formedhaving a D-shape.
 7. The disposable covering device of claim 4, whereinsaid high-heel portion is formed having a thickness greater than thethickness of the rest of said heel portion.
 8. The disposable coveringdevice of claim 4, wherein said heel portion and said front portion aredetachable from one another, such that each can be adjustably placed onrespective portions of different sized footwear.
 9. The disposablecovering device of claim 1, wherein said sheet member is formed frommolded plastic material.
 10. A combination of footwear and a disposablecovering device, said combination comprising: footwear comprising: asole including: a heel portion; and a front portion; and a disposablecovering device comprising: a sheet member including; a layer offlexible material; and a layer of adhesive material placed upon a topsurface of said layer of flexible material; a heel portion; wherein saidheel portion is sized and shaped to fit over and cover said heel of saidsole of said footwear; a front portion; wherein said front portion issized and shaped to fit over and cover said front portion of said soleof said footwear; wherein said disposable covering device is adapted tobe removably attached upon a bottom surface of said sole of saidfootwear via said layer of adhesive material and used to protect thebottom surface of said sole of said footwear from dirt, germs, bacteria,toxins, grease, grime, and other like substances; and can be peeled offtherefrom and disposed of after use.
 11. The disposable covering deviceof claim 10, further comprising a protection sheet adapted to hold saidsheet member thereon until the use thereof is desire; wherein said sheetmember is removably attached to said protection sheet via said layer ofadhesive material.
 12. The disposable covering device of claim 10,wherein said sheet member is formed having a shape and size adapted suchthat is can be cut smaller to fit smaller sized footwear withoutmaterial extending beyond said sole of said footwear and creating ahazard to said user.
 13. The disposable covering device of claim 10,wherein said heel portion includes a high-heel portion in a middle areathereof shaped and adapted to be placed over an end portion of saidfootwear having a high heel.
 14. The disposable covering device of claim13, wherein said high-heel portion is formed having an O-shape.
 15. Thedisposable covering device of claim 13, wherein said high-heel portionis formed having a D-shape.
 16. The disposable covering device of claim13, wherein said high-heel portion is formed having a thickness greaterthan the thickness of the rest of said heel portion.
 17. The disposablecovering device of claim 13, wherein said heel portion and said frontportion are detachable from one another, such that each can beadjustably placed on respective portions of different sized footwear.18. The disposable covering device of claim 10, wherein said sheetmember is formed from molded plastic.